Multi use strap and cord winder

ABSTRACT

A strap and cord winder is adjustable for different width straps and reconfigurable for cords. The winder includes a handle assembly with a center shaft and an offset pin for engaging and winding a strap. The center shaft adjustably passes through a face plate creating an adjustable width between a handle arm of the handle assembly and the face plate for winding different width straps. A cylindrical grip is attached to the face plate opposite the handle arm and the face plate attaches to a chest plate. A spool may be positioned on the center shaft between the handle arm and face plate for coiling cords and hoses and the offset pin engages a notch on one end of the spool to couple rotation of the handle to rotation of the spool. The spool includes disks at each end including open ended slots reaching radially to capture cord ends.

The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/168,583 filed Apr. 11, 2009 which application isincorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to straps used to hold down cargo ontrucks or trailers, and in particular to a cranking apparatus forwinding straps or cords after use.

Straps are commonly used to hold cargo in place on trucks, trailers, andfor cargo holding in general. The straps are various widths from oneinch to six inches and various lengths. Often, upon unloading cargo,users are faced by long lengths of the straps which may be exposed todirt, mud, snow, water, and the like, and require coiling for storage.No tools are available for easy coiling of the straps.

Further, because known straps come in various widths, know strap windersoften produce loose coils or fail to produce a single coil. Tangledstraps may result requiring time to prepare the straps for later use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing astrap and cord winder which is adjustable for different width straps andreconfigurable for cords. The strap winder includes a handle assemblywith a center shaft and an offset pin for engaging and winding a strapend. The center shaft adjustably passes through a face plate creating anadjustable width between a handle arm and the face plate for windingdifferent width straps. A cylindrical grip is attached to the face plateopposite the handle assembly and the face plate attaches to a chestplate. A spool may be positioned between the handle arm and the faceplate for coiling cords and hoses, and the offset pin engages a notch onone end of the spool to couple rotation of the handle arm to rotation ofthe spool. The spool includes disks at each end including open endedslots reaching radially to capture cord ends. The chest plate may becarried by an upper torso harness about even with the user's chest, ormay engage the user's pants belt about even with a user's waist, foreasy use.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided astrap winder. The strap winder includes a center shaft, a handleassembly attached to the center shaft, a sliding pin residing parallelto the center shaft and also attached to the handle assembly, a faceplate opposite the handle assembly, a grip attached to the face plateand residing over the center shaft extending opposite to the handleassembly and a harness plate attached to an upper torso wearable harnessand attached to the face plate for carrying the strap winder during use.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided aspool which may be placed on the center shaft residing between thehandle arm and the face plate. The sliding pin engages a notch in thespool to turn the spool with the handle arm. Installation of the spoolallows the strap winder to be used for coiling cords and hoses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following more particulardescription thereof, presented in conjunction with the followingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a strap winder according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a cord winder according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the strap winder according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the strap winder according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the strap winder according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3C is a top view of the strap winder according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a second perspective view of the cord winder according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 5A is a front view of the cord winder according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 5B is a side view of the cord winder according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 5C is a top view of the cord winder according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a face plate according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 7A is a side view of the face plate according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 7B is a front view of the face plate according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 7C is a top view of the face plate according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a chest plate according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 9A is a front view of the chest plate according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 9B is a side view of the chest plate according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 9C is a top view of the chest plate according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a handle assembly according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 11A is a front view of the handle assembly according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 11B is a side view of the handle assembly according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 11C is a top view of the handle assembly according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a spool according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 13A is a front view of end disks and a spool center of the spoolaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 13B is a side view of the end disks and the spool center of thespool according to the present invention.

FIG. 13C is a top view of the end disks and the spool center of thespool according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a detailed view of a mating portion of the end disks of thespool according to the present invention.

FIG. 15A shows the strap winder opened to accept a wider strap.

FIG. 15B shows the strap winder closed to accept a narrower strap.

FIG. 15C shows the strap winder with the spool residing over the centershaft.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an unwinding handle according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 17A is a side view of the unwinding handle according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 17B is an end view of the unwinding handle according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 17C is a top view of the unwinding handle according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 shows the spool on the unwinding handle according to the presentinvention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding componentsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated forcarrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in alimiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one ormore preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the inventionshould be determined with reference to the claims.

A perspective views of a multi use strap and cord winder according tothe present invention, configured as a strap winder 10 a is shown inFIG. 1A, and configured as a cord winder 10 b in FIG. 1B. The multi usestrap and cord winder uses a common chest plate 12, face plate 14, andhandle assembly 16. The chest plate 12 is worn by a user and the faceplate 14 is orthogonally attached to the chest plate 12. The handleassembly 16 includes a center shaft 20 passing through the face plate 14to provide the strap winder 10 a and a spool 18 is added for the cordwinder 10 b. A tubular handle 22 (see FIG. 6) is fixedly attached to theface plate 14 for grasping by the user during winding of a strap orcord.

A second perspective view of the strap winder 10 a is shown in FIG. 2, afront view of the strap winder 10 a is shown in FIG. 3A, a side view ofthe strap winder 10 a is shown in FIG. 3B, and a top view of the strapwinder 10 a is shown in FIG. 3C. The strap winder 10 a includes thechest plate 12 which includes slots 26 for attachment to a belt,harness, or the like for carrying by a user. The face plate 14 isattached to a female extension 28 of the chest plate 12. The face plate14 includes a bushing 24 and tubular handle 22. The bushing 24 receivesa center shaft 20 attached to the handle assembly 16 and the centershaft 20 reaches through and past the tubular handle 22. A sliding pin32 of the handle assembly 16 reaches parallel with the center shaft 20towards the face plate 14 and may be used to hold the end of a strapwhich is being wound around the center shaft 20. The depth of thesliding pin 32 is adjustable to allow adjustment of the separation ofthe handle assembly 16 from the face place 14 for different widthstraps.

A second perspective view of the cord winder 10 b is shown in FIG. 4, afront view of the cord winder 10 b is shown in FIG. 5A, a side view ofthe cord winder 10 b is shown in FIG. 5B, and a top view of the cordwinder 10 b is shown in FIG. 5C. The cord winder 10 b is configuredsimilar to the strap winder 10 a, with an exception that a spool 18resides between handle assembly 16 and face plate 14. The spool 18facilitates convenient winding of cords and is described in more detailbelow.

A perspective view of the face plate 14 according to the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 6, a side view of the face plate 14 is shownin FIG. 7A, a front view of the face plate 14 is shown in FIG. 7B, and atop view of the face plate 14 is shown in FIG. 7C. The face plate 14includes a base 20 for attaching to the chest plate 12, the bushing 24for receiving the center shaft 20, and the tubular handle 22. The faceplate 14 has an inward facing face 14 a and an outward facing face 14 bopposite to the inward facing face 14 a. The inward facing face 14 aprovides a boundary for either a strap wound onto the strap winder 10 aor for the spool 18. The faces 14 a and 14 b preferably are round oroval portions 13 a with an attachment portion 13 b extending from oneside of the faces 14 a and 14 b. The bushing 24 includes a passage 24 ahaving a centerline approximately orthogonal to the inside face 14 a. Anexample of a suitable tubular handle 22 is a three inch long piece ofone inch PVC.

The face plate 14 has a length of preferably approximately eight inches,a circular portion has a diameter of preferably approximately fourinches, and a thickness of preferably approximately 5/16 inches. Thebushing 24 has an outside diameter of preferably approximately 1¼inches, an inside diameter of preferably approximately one inch andreaches a distance of preferably approximately 7/16 inches from the faceplate 14. The base 20 is preferably rectangular and has a width ofpreferably approximately four inches and a height of preferablyapproximately 1½ inches.

A perspective view of the chest plate 12 according to the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 8, a front view of the chest plate 12 isshown in FIG. 9A, a side view of the chest plate 12 is shown in FIG. 9B,and a top view of the chest plate 12 is shown in FIG. 9C. The chestplate 12 includes two slots 26 allowing a belt, a harness, or the liketo engage the chest plate 12 to carry the chest plate 12 near the user'schest or waist. A female extension 28 reaches out from the chest plate12 for attachment of the face plate 14 to the chest plate 12. While thechest plate 12 is a preferred apparatus for holding the face plate, anywinder having the functionality of the winders 10 a and/or 10 b havingany apparatus for carrying the winder is intended to come within thescope of the present invention. The face plate 14 is preferably attachedto the chest plate 12 by a single fastener, for example, a screw, or acotter pin, a spring loaded detent, or the like, passing through holes29 in the female extension 28 and through the base 20 of the face plate14.

The chest plate 12 is preferably approximately six inches wide, eightinches high, and ¼ inches thick. The slots 26 are preferablyapproximately five inches deep and ¾ inches wide. The female extension28 is preferably rectangular and has a height of preferablyapproximately 1½ inches and a length of preferably approximately 4⅜inches. While a chest plate is herein disclosed having two slots forengaging a belt or harness, other chest plates may include closed slots,hooks, rings, screws, or the like for attaching the chest plate to abelt or harness, and a winder according to the present invention havingany means for attaching a chest plate to a belt or harness is intendedto come within the scope of the present invention.

A perspective view of a handle assembly 16 according to the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 10, a front view of the handle assembly 16 isshown in FIG. 11A, a side view of the handle assembly 16 is shown inFIG. 11B, and a top view of the handle assembly 16 is shown in FIG. 11C.The handle assembly 16 includes the center shaft 20, the sliding pin 32reaching parallel to the center shaft 20, an arm 36, a knob 38. Thecenter shaft has a proximal end 20 a next to the arm 36 and a distal end20 b opposite the proximal end 20 a for insertion through the bushing 24and tubular handle 22. The proximal end 20 a of the center shaft 20 isattached to the arm 36. The arm 36 includes a shaft end 36 a withincreased thickness to attach to the center shaft 20. The shaft end 36 ais preferably approximately ¾ inches thick and has an internal boresized for an interference fit to the center shaft 20. The sliding pin 32slides through the arm 36 at the shaft end 36 a, facilitating adjustmentof the width of the strap winder 10 a.

The center shaft 20 is preferably approximately ⅞ inches in diameter andpreferably approximately ten inches long and may be made from, forexample, ⅞ inch PVC schedule 40 pipe. The sliding pin 32 is preferablyapproximately ¼ inches in diameter and preferably approximately 3.5inches long and is preferably offset from the center shaft 20 byapproximately ¾ inches. The centerlines of the center shaft 20 andsliding pin are separated by approximately ¾ inches resulting in anapproximately 3/16 inch gap between the center shaft 20 and the slidingpin 32 for capturing an end of the strap. The knob 38 is preferablyoffset from the center shaft 20 by the arm 36 by approximately 4 7/23inches.

A perspective view of the spool 18 according to the present invention isshown in FIG. 12, a front view of the spool 18 is shown in FIG. 13A, aside view of the spool 18 is shown in FIG. 13B, and a top view of thespool 18 is shown in FIG. 13C. The spool 18 includes three parts, aninside disk 42, a spool center 40, and an outside disk 44 opposite theinside disk 42. The inside disk 42 includes a slot 46 for engaging theend of a cord for holding the cord while winding the cord onto the spool18. The inside disk 42 also includes a notch (or passage) 50 forengaging the sliding pin 32 to cause the spool 18 to rotate with the arm36. The outside disk 44 includes a second slot 48 also for receiving theend of a cord. The slots 46 and 48 are preferably approximately ⅜ inchesand approximately ¾ inches wide for receiving different sized cords.Either or both disks 42 and 44 may be solid or include cutouts 45.

The disks 42 and 44 have a disk diameter of preferably approximately teninches and thickness of preferably approximately ¼ inches, and the spool18 is preferably approximately 5½ inches wide.

A detailed cross-sectional view of an inside facing center portion 44 aof the disks 42 and 44 is shown in FIG. 14. The center portion hascylindrical bore 41 with diameter D1 opening to a mouth 43 at a taper T.The diameter D1 is preferably approximately ⅞ inches, the taper T ispreferably approximately 30 degrees and provides self centering oraligning when the spool 18 is installed over the center shaft 20. Thecenter portion has a shoulder 45 having an outside diameter D2 ofpreferably approximately 1¾ inches and a width W of preferablyapproximately one half inch. A square cross-section recess 47 is cutinto the disks 42, 44 for seating the cylindrical spool center 40, thesquare cross-section recess 47 is preferably approximately ⅛ inch deepand preferably approximately ⅛ inch wide. The disks 42, 44 are pushedonto the spool center 40 and retained by an interference fit. The disks42, 44 and center 40 are preferably made from plastic.

The strap winder 10 a is shown opened to accept a wider strap in FIG. 15a is shown closed to accept a narrower strap in FIG. 15B, and is shownwith the spool 18 residing over the center shaft 20 in FIG. 15C. A pincap 33 resides on the inside end of the sliding pin 32 to resist orprevent the sliding pin 32 from being completely withdrawn from the arm36. The sliding pin 32 facilitates simple adjustment of the separationof the face plate 14 from the handle arm 36 to accommodate differentwidth straps. The ability to adjust the width of the winder 10 a allowswinding tight and even coils which are not possible when a narrow strapis wound on a wide winder. Such tight and even coils are easier to storeand to pay out for later use. The spool 18 may be placed over the centershaft 20 and the sliding pin 32 inserted through the notch 50 (see FIG.13B) to couple rotation of the handle arm 36 with rotation of the spool18.

A perspective view of an unwinding handle 60 according to the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 16, a side view of the unwinding handle 60 isshown in FIG. 17A, an end view of the unwinding handle 60 is shown inFIG. 17B, and a top view of the unwinding handle 60 is shown in FIG.17C. The unwinding handle 60 includes a grip 64 and a hub 62 separatedby a handle arm 66. The hub 62 includes a passage 63 having an insidediameter providing an interference fit to the center shaft 20 so thatcenter shaft 20 may be detached from the handle arm 36 and withdrawnfrom the face plate 14 and engaged with the unwinding handle 60 forreleasing a strap or cord which was previously wound onto the centershaft 20.

The unwinding handle 60 preferably has an overall outside radius ofpreferably approximately 7¼ inches and the grip 64 has an overall lengthof preferably approximately 5⅝ inches.

The spool 18 is shown on the unwinding handle 60 in FIG. 18. The centertube 20 is shown inserted into the passage 63 of the hub 62 of theunwinding handle 60 using the interference fit. The spool 18 slides overthe center tube 20 with a loose fit allowing the spool 18 to freelyrotate on the center tube 20, and a cap 68 placed over the end of thecenter tube 20 to retain the spool 18. The cap 68 and center tube 20 arepreferably plastic and the cap is held on the center tube 20 by aninterference fit, and more preferably, the cap 68 and center tube 20 arestandard ⅞ inch schedule 40 PVC products.

While the chest plate 12 is described above to include two slots forengaging a belt or harness, the chest plate may also be attached to abelt or harness by other means including hooks, screws, bolts, and thelike, and a winder having any means for carrying the harness on a user'sbody is intended to come within the scope of the present invention.Further, while dimensions of various elements of the winder are cited aspreferred, those skill in the art will recognize that the dimensions maybe scaled up or down as may be convenient for manufacturing or use andstill come within the scope of the present invention. Further, whilepreferred materials are disclosed, those skill in the art will recognizethat a winder may be made from a variety materials as may be convenientfor manufacturing or use and still come within the scope of the presentinvention

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means ofspecific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modificationsand variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

1. A winder comprising: a non-rotating face plate having an inwardfacing face and an outward facing face opposite to the inward facingface; a bushing portion of the face plate approximately centered on thefaces, the bushing having a passage and the passage having a centerlineapproximately orthogonal to the inward facing face; a handle assemblyhaving: a center shaft having a proximal end and a distal end oppositethe proximal end, the distal end passing through the bushing in the faceplate; a handle arm having a shaft end attached to the center shaft atthe proximal end of the center shaft; and a sliding pin residingparallel to the center shaft and also slidably engaging the shaft end ofthe handle arm, and a spool residing on the center shaft between thehandle arm and the inward facing face of the face plate, the sliding pinextending into the spool to couple turning the handle arm with turningthe spool, wherein the center shaft is slidable through the bushing toadjust the separation of the handle arm from the inward facing face ofthe face plate.
 2. The winder of claim 1, wherein the inward facing faceprovides a first side boundary for a strap wound by the winder and anopposing face of the handle arm provides a second side boundary for thestrap.
 3. The winder of claim 1, further including a tubular handleattached to the outward facing face of the face plate and coaxial withthe passage of the bushing of the face plate, the distal end of thecenter shaft reaching into the tubular handle and rotatable inside thetubular handle.
 4. The winder of claim 1, wherein the spool ends includeradially extending slots to capture a cable end.
 5. The winder of claim4, wherein a first radially extending slot is approximately ⅜ incheswide and a second radially extending slot is approximately ¾ incheswide.
 6. The winder of claim 4, wherein the spool ends include centerportions having a cylindrical interior portion providing a bushingsurface for rotation on the center shaft and a tapered interior portionopening into the spool to facilitate insertion of the center shaft intothe spool.
 7. The winder of claim 1, wherein the center shaft isdetachably attached to the handle arm using an interference fit.
 8. Thewinder of claim 7, further including an unwinding handle having a hubwith a passage providing an interference fit to the center shaft and agrip for holding to allow easy release of a cord wound onto the spool.9. The winder of claim 1, wherein the sliding pin is separated from thecenter shaft by approximately 3/16 inches for capturing an end of astrap.
 10. A winder comprising: a non-rotating face plate having aninward facing face and an outward facing face opposite to the inwardfacing face, the face plate including a tubular handle fixedly attachedto the outward facing face and having a bore orthogonal to the inwardfacing face of the face plate; a handle assembly having: a center shafthaving a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, thedistal end passing through the tubular handle of the face plate andfreely rotating inside the tubular handle; a handle arm having a shaftend detachably attached to the center shaft by an interference fit atthe proximal end of the center shaft; and a sliding pin residingparallel to the center shaft and also slidably engaging the shaft end ofthe handle arm, and a spool residing on the center shaft between thehandle arm and the inward facing face of the face plate, the sliding pinextending into the spool to couple turning the handle arm with turningthe spool, wherein the center shaft is slidable through a bushing toadjust the separation of the handle arm from the inward facing face ofthe face plate.
 11. A winder comprising: a chest plate wearable by auser; a non-rotating face plate attached orthogonally to the chest plateand having an inward facing face and an outward facing face opposite tothe inward facing face, the face plate including a tubular handlefixedly attached to the outward facing face and having a bore orthogonalto the inward facing face of the face plate; a handle assembly having: acenter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end opposite theproximal end, the distal end passing through the tubular handle of theface plate and freely rotating inside the tubular handle; a handle armhaving a shaft end detachably attached to the center shaft by aninterference fit at the proximal end of the center shaft; and a slidingpin residing parallel to the center shaft and also slidably engaging theshaft end of the handle arm, and a spool residing on the center shaftbetween the handle arm and the inward facing face of the face plate, thesliding pin extending into the spool to couple turning the handle armwith turning the spool, wherein the center shaft is slidable through abushing to adjust the separation of the handle arm from the inwardfacing face of the face plate.